Wednesday Sponsor Giveaway: Freehand Scraps, Big Picture Scrapbooking, + Paper & Co. Show

Well my recent leap of courage is something I should've done a long time ago. I'm actively advocating for 2 of our boys regarding their development and getting diagnoses' for being on the autism spectrum. This hasn't been easy and I've been fighting for a long time.
I decided to stop feeling guilty and blaming myself for maybe not doing somethng sooner. I found the courage to listen to my heart and gut feeling and go ahead with researching and advocating for them. I did the right thing. One has a tentative diagnosis and the other is receiving therapy as well.
It's a never ending battle it seems but my courage to stand up for what we believe and feel is making us stronger as a family and helping our sons as well!

Great blog post today. I am a firm believer in it's how you respond to the challenges in your life that makes you, you but then again...I've had a lot of challenges over the years as I'm a 5.5 year stage IV breast cancer survivor (not curable but treatable). I got good news on Monday and I feel so blessed and lucky every day to still be getting these results after 5.5 years. I wake up every morning so grateful to still be here with my kids (ages 6,6, and 9). There was a quote on Oprah's spiritual program. I can't remember the exact words but it was something like - sometimes these challenges give you something in your life that you would never have otherwise. It allows you to grow as a person in new ways. I truly believe that is what has happened to me with my challenges.
I LOVE the Freehand scrap kit (if I get picked for that one). To anyone reading this who hasn't taken Stacy's class - I can't recommend it enough. I took it last year and it brought back my joy with scrapbooking. It's WELL worth money. I just loved that class!! :)
Thanks for the great post this morning. Lots of food for thought!
Deb

My most recent leap was one of faith and hope. After two years of trying to have a baby, I took a leap that modern medicine would be able to help me, that my husband would be able to give me the shots and I would still like him, that we could conceive a healthy baby, that once he was in me I would have the strength to push him out, that I would recognize that caring for him would be my most difficult but rewarding career, and that I would still be able to laugh at myself along the journey. I learned that by taking the leap, I gained a whole new life that I love more than I thought I could!

My most recent big leap was to return to college part time (while still being a full time worker, mom and wife) to get my teaching degree. I have wanted to teach elementary school for a long time and it took a little motivation from a co-worker to convince me that 30 was not too old to start.

I have been singing in a professional choir for over a year now, and tomorrow I am going to try out for a solo! I am very excited.

oh wow! how fun! thanks ali! those are all great prizes!

My most recent leap has been to join a virtual quilting bee - I'm nervous that my skills won't be on par with the others in the group, but I'm excited to be participating!

I feel like we have been in somewhat of a rut lately, but we've just gotten past a last quarter of 2008 lay-off due to the Boeing strike in Seattle (my dh works for a company that makes parts for them). We didn't know how long the dry spell would last, but we had faith that our small savings and my income would see us through.

Thank you Ali - you are always an inspiration!
I have 2 leaps...I brought my 10th grader home to be home schooled and shortly after deciding to do that I found out I have breast cancer....the blessing I find there is I will have my son close to me as I get well, usually a time in a teenager life when they are pulling away and he will be stronger for the experience.
GOD BLESS!
Terry

My most recent leap was following Gandhi's advice to "be the change you wish to see in the world." I've been in marketing for 8 years but now want to focus on public health communications. I decided to volunteer my skills by participating in a marketing committee for a local non-profit. It feels great to donate my time and to expect nothing in return but a warm fuzzy!

I don't really like change so I needed the explanation about leaps. Thank you. A big leap right now is surrendering control about a worry of mine that I really can do nothing about.

I've been singing in a professional choir for over a year, and tomorrow I will be trying out for a solo! I am very excited.

My latest "big leap" is recently returning to work after being a SAHM for almost 2 years. I'm comfortable at home, I feel 'safe' here by myself with nobody to judge, criticize or be accountable to.
Now I am out in the working world again helping children and helping myself to be a more confident person.

Ali,thank you for the constant inspiration! now for my leap...i have always been one to follow my heart and my desires but this past year especially.in july,2008 i was let go from my mgmt.position at "a large,well known coffee company" because they were shutting stores nationwide.i was scared for our family's survival with only one income and 2 children and the usual bills associated with that life, also i felt pretty ashamed for having been let go from a job like that....instead of feeling sorry for myself and then rushing into just any job i decided to follow yet another passion of mine and go back to school for design.now,i am well on my way to having my degree in graphic design and am so proud of myself for following my desires...of course,i have to thank my wonderful husband for supporting me in my endeavor to pursue something i really love!!

I was forced into a leap recently and it ended up working out to my advantage. I lost my job and things looked quite bad. However I continued with my planned trip to Europe, which ended up being the exact thing my son and I needed and when I came back I found a better job!

a recent leap of faith for me was participating in my first karate tournament. spent the day chewing on my belt, I was so nervous! :-)

My recent leap of face involves being a SAHM mom after I recently lost of job that I held for 20 years. It's a huge adjustment. At the same time, my husband's company is on the verge of closing, so we may have to move out of state. I enjoyed reading the paragraph you posted today about courage as I'm going through a hard time right now.

Today my act of courage is to keep from bursting into tears seeing a pregnant lady at my son's daycare and realizing that will probably never be me again. And remembering that the son I have, who was a miracle of IVF, is amazing and I'm blessed to have him. And that I can't blame my husband who has the infertility issue, he certainly didn't ask for it to happen to him. I guess I'm having a really emotional day today and it just really caught me off guard! I don't think of it as courage at the time, but I guess that's what it really is. Thanks for the passage today, we really do just have to keep moving forward!
Congrats on your little one to arrive soon!

Life has been all about big and little leaps - of faith, in people, in decisions, in trusting my own instincts.
Recently, it's just been that daily leap and learning to trust that whatever the day brings, it's going to be ok.

My most recent leap was to try a new exercise class at the gym. I typically stick with what I'm familiar with, but tried a spin class. Tough, but well worth it!